Even as Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU) continues to set new benchmarks in the speedy declaration of examination results, a growing section of teachers contends that the drive for faster results is taking a toll on regular classes, faculty workload and academic standards.The latest flashpoint is a university circular directing all affiliated colleges to suspend regular classes and relieve teachers from June 9 to 12 for the valuation camp of the Fourth Semester FYUGP March 2026 examinations. “To facilitate the smooth functioning of the camp from June 9 to 12, the Vice-Chancellor has issued an order to suspend the regular classes and relieve all teachers including the guest teachers to the camp,” reads the circular, issued by the office of the Controller of Examinations.Teachers, however, contend that halting classes barely days after the new academic year has begun sends the wrong message to students and could further hasten the migration from colleges. More importantly, they argue, the disruption is unlikely to end with this valuation camp.“This camp, which concludes on June 12, is slated to be followed by another camp on June 20 for the postgraduate examinations, which have not even finished yet. Considering this convention of suspending classes to conduct valuation camps, there is going to be another disruption in classes from June 20,” pointed out a teacher in one of the affiliated colleges.College Principals, too, say the university’s obsession with announcing results ahead of others has piled unprecedented pressure on academic standards.“In fact, the highest number of classes are now lost not due to student strikes as in earlier times but due to this pressure to juggle multiple academic responsibilities while simultaneously attending valuation camps. The teachers are now expected to handle university exam duties for FYUGP and CBCSS, conduct postgraduate classes and attend FYUGP valuation camps, all within a short span of time,” said a Principal of a college under the varsity.The official also noted that the Vice-Chancellor’s order to suspend classes is not being implemented uniformly across colleges, creating an uneven playing field.“The Principal claimed that a self-financing college is conducting full classes while a valuation camp is ongoing, allowing some institutions to benefit from the blanket suspension of classes.”The controversy is not new. During the previous academic year, the Kerala Private College Teachers’ Association (KPCTA) had openly accused the university of rushing through the academic calendar by directing colleges to begin valuation camps even before examinations had concluded.University officials, however, rejected allegations of undue haste, maintaining that the objective is simply to complete examinations and publish results within the prescribed academic schedule.“The suspension of classes, as directed by the Vice-Chancellor, is to enable a full scale operation of the camp so as to complete the paper valuation in the least possible time,” clarified Sreejith C.M., Controller of Examinations, MGU.Responding to allegations that some colleges have continued classes despite the order, the official said the university had not received any such complaints. “Since it’s an order issued by the Vice-Chancellor, all affiliated colleges are bound to follow this,” he added. Published - June 10, 2026 06:04 pm IST